Ball return means for pool tables



Dec. 19, 1950 F. G. HOLMES 2,534,770

BALL RETURN MEANS FOR POOL TABLES Filed Jan. 1'7, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 M'. u wl' mumhv l g INVENTOR FRANK @ROOMS HOLMES By E @DZ ATTORNE Dec. 19, 1950 F. G. HoLMr-:s 2,534,770

BALL RETURN MEANS FoR PooL TABLES l 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FRANK @Rooms HOLMES ATTORNEy Dex;a 19, 1950 F. G. HoLMx-:s 2,534,770

BALL RETURN MEANS FOR POOL TABLES Filed Jan. 17, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet I;

l INVENTOR FRANK @ROOMS HOLM E5 BY 11.44 f l ATTORNE Deco HQ, w50 F. G. HOLMES 2534977@ BALL RETURN MEANS FOR POOL TABLES Filed Jan. 17, 1946 Jg-Sheets-Shee't 4 INVENTOR. FRANK @Room HOLMES l' TTORNEY Patented Bec.. i9, 1950 NITED STATES OFFIC BALL RETURN MEANS FOR FQGL TABLES Frank Grooms Holmes, Philadelphia, Pa.

6 Ciaims.

This invention reiates in general to a, pool table attachment and in particular to an attachment for a pool table whereby a set of billiard or pool balls is returned from the pockets to the correct starting formation on the table.

In pool games and the like it is an undesirable inconvenience to have to stop after each game and realign the balls on the table in their proper position, especially since it is necessary to reach either into the pockets or into a collection point beneath the table and obtain the balls, and then subsequently to position the balls on the table.

According to the invention, it is proposed to provide' means for correctly positioning the balls after the conclusion of a game.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for retrieving pool balls and for presenting them on the top of the pool table for proper positioning on the surface of the table.

A still further object of this invention is to prevent the usual indentation of the slate and wear and tear of the fabric within the area of the table where the balls are normally arranged for play.

Other objects of this invention as well as the construction, use, and operation thereof will in part be obvious and will in part become apparent from the following description.

For further comprehension of the invention, yand of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. l is a side elevation partially in section of one end of a pool table with a ball returning means constructed in accordance with the present invention operably connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line i3-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig'. l.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a ball returning attachment as shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of a pool table as shown in Fig. l, with a ball returning attachment thereon shown in a position during the process of returning and placing the balls on the table.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. i in the normal or idle position.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a ball arranging Y means according to the present invention adapted Cil 2 to present the balls for replacement on the table in a triangular arrangement.

Fig. S is a perspective view of the ball arranging member and tray.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the pool table with the tray shown in full lines in the same position in which it is shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5 and with the ball arranging member removed therefrom.

On the drawings, there is shown one end of a pool table il with a ball returning means i2 positioned thereunder. The table is of conventional size and shape, and has a set of passages leading from each of the pockets (not shown) to a central chute i3a which discharges into a collecting tray i5. This tray, as will be described hereinafter, is adapted to be moved to present the balls for replacement on the surface of the table, whereby the bother and annoyance of replacing balls is considerably reduced. The tray i5 is raised by convenient means, such as, by means of a foot pedal il, see Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

Connected with the foot pedal IQ there is a cable it which passes over a. pulley il rotatively mounted at the top of one leg i8 of a framework on which the ball returning means is mounted. The other end of the cable it is in turn connected with one of two support members i9 positioned under the table H. The support members i9 are vertically slidably mounted on the legs i3 of the framework, by means of projections 2B which slidably engage vertical grooves 2i in the legs i8, see Figs. 2 and 3. The upper ends of the legs i8 are mounted integrally on the pool table, by means of screw plates 22 or the like.

Positioned on the support members i9 there are a pair of runners 23 which are adapted to slide between the support members i9 andA rollers Zit which are likewise mounted on the support members. The collecting tray i5 is in turn mounted on the runners 23, so that the tray is effectively supported by the support members I9 and is slidably mounted thereon. Thus, when the foot pedal i6.. is depressed, the force thereof is carried through the cable it and the support members i9 to raise the tray i5.

Positioned along the legs i8 there are two racks 25, one on each leg, with mating pinions 26 therefor (refer to Figs. 5 and 6) mounted on the support members i3, by means of an axle 2l. Mounted along the runners 23 there is a second pair of racks 28, again one on each runner, with a mating pinion 2t for each rack, the pinions being mounted on the axle 2l. Thus, when the support members I9 are raised the pinions 25 are caused to roll along rack 25, thereby rotating the pinions 2? to extend the racks 28 and in turn the runners 23 horizontally outward from under the table II. By this relatively simple coacticn of parts, the act of depressing the foot pedal IF; causes the tray I to be moved upward and out- Ward to a position shown in Fig. 5, near the top of the table I I.

Referring to Fig. l, it is seen that the chute I3a for the collection of the balls from the various pockets terminates somewhat short of the collecting tray I5, so that free motion of the tray with respect to the chute I 3a is permitted. Thus, the tray I5 is at all times free to be raised without displacing any of the parts of the table II or of the ball return chute.

As shown in Figs. i and 6, the foot pedal I4 may be connected with a pivot member or anchor 3i] by means of an extension Ilia of the pedal. This anchor 3E! may in turn be secured to the table by conventional means, such as, a brace 3l connecting it to one of the legs I8 of the supporting frame, see Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is illustrated in further detail the operation of the device, in particular with respect to the placing of the balls on the upper surface of the table II. In the raised position of the tray i5, a stop plate 32 mounted on the rear ends of the support members I9, is placed in front of the end of the chute I3a, so that balls passing into the pockets when the tray I5 is in the upper position will be prevented from falling to the floor and breaking.

Supporting the tray I5 at its rear end there is a hinged support 33 which is mounted under the tray by means of a hinge 34 and is also mounted on a vertical support member 35 by means of a hinge 36. The front end of the tray, in its normal position rests on the upper edge of the vertical support 35, which in turn is mounted between the adjacent edges of the runners 23, for example, by means of glue, nails, screws, or the like.

By virtue of the hinged mounting of the tray I5 on hinged support 33 it is a simple matter to raise the tray from the normal position shown in Fig. 5 to an angular position, indicated by the dot and dash lines I5. From this position, the tray can be moved forward, to extend over the edge of the table II, and to rest with its front edge on the upper surface of the table. The length cf the hinged member 33 is so selected that when the front edge of the tray I5 rests on the surface of the tabl-e, the rear of the tray barely clears the edge of the table. Accordingly, when the tray is presented to the table, there is a slight slope to the bottom of the tray.

The balls are collected in the tray I5 as they are poclieted during the course of the game. When the game is over, the pedal I4 is depressed, raising the tray i5 as has been hereinbefore disclosed. The tray I5 is then swung on hinged member 33 to present the tray to the upper surface of the table I I, and the balls are thus placed on the upper surface and ready to be arranged thereon.

According to the invention, there is provided a ball arranging member 3'! which is adapted to be positioned within the tray I 5 as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 8. This member 31 comprises a back member 38 and two side members 35 secured thereto by means of spring hinges 4I. The hinges fil constantly urge the side members together to the position shown in Fig. 7, with a relatively strong force, sufficient to cause a set of billiard balls within the arranging member to be arranged to conform thereto.

In the ready or receiving position, this frame 31 is mounted in the tray I5 as shown in Fig. 8, with the two side members 39 engaging grooves or slots 44 running longitudinally along the bottom lis of the tray I5. The back member 38 of the frame 31 is substantially parallel with the back member 4B of the tray I5, as are the sides 3e of the frame substantially parallel with the sides i2 of the tray. In this position the tray and frame are placed as shown in Fig. 6 to receive the balls as they pass from the bottom end of the chute I3, so that the balls are finally collected within the sides of the arranging member 31. When the tray I5 is subsequently moved to the top position as shown in Fig. 5, and before it is raised to present the balls to the surface of the table, the sides 39 of the frame 31 are raised out of the slots 44, whereby the springs 4I are permitted to shape the balls into a triangle suitable for nal placement thereof. The arranging member 3l with the triangle of balls contained therein, is then slid out of the open side of the tray I5 onto the surface of the table II and the arranging member is removed from around the balls, leaving a perfect form for the next game.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letter Patent is:

l, In a pool table having a fiat top surface supported on vertical legs and a chute for collecting the balls which drop into the pockets of the table and delivering them to a point adjacent one end of the table, a pair of support members vertically slidably mounted between the legs at the end of the table where the chute delivers the balls and normally in a lowered position, runners mounted on the support members to slide in a horizontal plane relative to said support members and having a normal position beneath the top surface and rearward relative to said support members when said support members are in their lowered position, a collecting tray mounted on said runners to receive the balls as they drop from the end of the chute, an axle horizontally rotatively supported by said support members, a rack formed on one of the legs carrying said support members and on the side thereof adjacent said axle, a pinion xed on said axle and engaging said rack to cause said axle to be turned in one direction as said support members move upward and to be turned in the opposite direction as said support members move downward, a rack formed along the bottom face or" one of said runners, a second pinion fixed on said axle and meshing with said latter-mentioned rack to cause said runners and said collecting tray mounted thereon to be moved outward to a position adjacent the said one end `of the table when the support members are raised and to be moved inward to their starting positions when said support members are lowered, and means for raising and lowering said support members.

2. In a pool table having a fiat top surface supported on vertical legs and a chute for collecting the balls which drop into the pockets of the table `and delivering them to a point adjacent one end of the table, a pair of support members vertically slidably mounted between the legs at the end of the table where the chute delivers the balls and normally in a lowered position, runners mounted on the support members to slide in a horizontal plane relative to said support members and having a normal position beneath the top surface and rearward relative to said support members when said support members are in their lowered position, a collecting tray mounted on said runners to receive the balls as they drop from the end of the chute, an axle horizontally rotatively supported by said support members, a rack formed on one of the legs carrying said support members and on the side thereof adjacent said axle, a pinion fixed on said axle and engaging said rack to cause said axle to be turned `in one direction as said support members move upward and to be turned in the opposite direction as said support members move downward, a rack formed along the bottom face of one of said runners, a second pinion fixed on said axle and meshing with said latter-mentioned rack to cause said runners and said collecting tray mounted thereon to be moved outward to a position adjacent the said one end of the table when the support members are raised and to be moved inward to their starting positions when said support members are lowered, and means for raising and lowering said support members, said raising and lowering means comprising a pivotally mounted foot pedal, a pulley rotatively supported on the top end of one of the legs supporting said support members, and a cable engaged over said pulley and connected at one end to said foot pedal and at its other end to the adjacent support member.

3. ln a pool table having a at top surface supported on vertical legs and a chute for collecting the balls which drop into the pockets of the table and delivering them to a point adjacent one end of the table, a pair of support members vertically slidably mounted between the legs at the end of the table where the chute delivers the balls and normally in a lowered position, runners mounted on the support members to slide in a horizontal plane relative to said support members and having a normal position beneath the top surface and rearward relative to said support members when said support members are in their lowered position, a collecting tray mounted on said runners to receive the balls as they drop from the end of the chute, an axle horizontally rotatively supported by said support members, a rack formed on one of the legs carrying said support members and on the side thereof adjacent said axle, a pinion fixed on said axle and engaging said rack to cause said axle to be turned in one direction as said support members move upward and to be turned in the opposite direction as said support members move downward, a rack formed along the bottom face of one of said runners, a second pinion fixed on said axle and meshing with said latter-mentioned rack to cause said runners and said collecting tray mounted thereon to be moved outward to a position adjacent the said one end or the table when the support members are raised and to be moved inward to their starting positions when said support members are lowered, and means for raising and lowering said support members, the legs supporting said support members being formed on the sides adjacent said support members with vertical grooves, and projections extending from said support members and slidably engaging said grooves forming the means the end of the table where the chute delivers the balls and normally in a lowered position, runners mounted on the support members to slide in a horizontal plane relative to said support members and having a normal position beneath the top surface and rearward relative to said support members when said support members are in their lowered position, a collecting tray mounted on said runners to receive the balls as they drop from the end of the chute, an axle horizontally rotatively supported by said support members, a rack formed on one of the legs carrying said support members and on the side thereof adjacent said axle, a pinion xed on said axle and engaging said rack to cause said axle to be turned in one direction as said support members move upward and to be turned in the opposite direction as saidr support members move downward, a rack formed along the bottom face of one of said runners, a second pinion xed on said axle and meshing with said :latter-mentioned rack to cause said runners and said collecting tray mounted thereon to be moved outward to a position adjacent the said one end of the table when the support members are raised and to be moved inward to their starting positions when said support members are lowered, and means for raising and lowering said support members, said collecting tray being mounted on said runners so as to be movable to a position overlying the end of the table in the forward raised position of said runners.

5. In a poo-1 table having a nat top surface supported on vertical legs and a chute for collecting the balls which drop into the pockets of the table and delivering them to a point adjacent one end of the table, a pair of support members vertically slidably mounted between the legs at the end of the table where the chute delivers the balls and normally in a lowered position, runners mounted on the support members to slide in a horizontal plane relative to said support members and having a normal position beneath the top surface and rearward relative to said support members when said support members are in their lowered position, a collecting tray mounted on said runners to receive the balls they drop from the end of the chute, an axle horizontally rotativeiy supported by said support members, a rack formed on one of the legs carrying said support members and on the side thereof adjacent said axle, a pinion iixed on said axle and engaging said rack to cause said axle to be turned in one direction as said support members move upward and to be turned in the opposite direction as said support members move downward, a rack formed along the bottom face of one of said runners, a second pinion fixed on said axle and meshing with said latter-mentioned rack to cause said runners and said collecting tray mounted thereon to be moved outward to a position adjacent the said one end of the table when the support members are raised and to be moved inward to their starting positions when said support members are lowered, and means for raising and lowering said support members, said runners being laterally spaced and said mounting of said tray lon`.said runners, comprising a vertical support member mounted between the adjacent edgesfof said runnersadjacent the rear ends thereof, and a support pivotally attached at its lower end to the lower end of said vertical support member and extending upward and forward therefrom, said tray having its front end pivotally attached `on the upper `edge of said latter-mentioned support ,and its rear end resting on the top edge o said vertical support member, whereby in the raised forwardly moved position of said runners said collecting tray may be moved to a position .overlying the adjacent end of the table.

6. In a pool table having a flat top surface supported on vertical legs and a chute for collecting the table where the chute delivers the balls and ,i

normally in a lowered position, runners mounted on the support members to slide in a horizontal plane relative to said support members and having ,2, lnormal position beneath the top surface and rearward relative to said support members when said support members are in their lowered position, a collecting tray mounted on said runners to receive the balls as they drop from the end of the chute, an Vaxle horizontally rotatively supported yby said support members, a racl: formed on one of the legs carrying said support members and on the side thereof adjacent said axle, a pinion xed on said axle and engaging said rack to cause said axle to be turned in one direction as said support members move upward and to be turned in the opposite direction as said support members move downward, a rack formed along the bottom face of one of said runners, a second pinion xed on said axle and meshing with said latter-mentioned rack to cause said runners and said collecting tray mounted thereon to be moved outward to a position adjacent the said one end of the table when the support members are raisedv and to be moved inward to their starting positions when said support members are lowered, and means for raising and lowering said support members, and a stop plate mounted between the rear ends of said support members for closing the ybottom end of the chute in the raised position of said support members.

- FRANK GROOMS HOLMES.

REFERENCES CITED "lili e .following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

